Which can be read on almost every computer are doc, txt or pdf. However, when reading fiction and technical literature, you often come across other popular extensions. Trying to read such books for the first time, users are wondering what fb2 is, what format it is, what program it opens with. After all, with the help of ordinary office applications, as well as the built-in resources of Windows and other operating systems, this cannot be done. A automatic search programs that can open books with the fb2 extension do not always give positive results.
Format Benefits
Created back in the 1990s, the fb2 (Fiction Book) standard is designed to create electronic versions of documents and books, in which each element has its own tag (informative label). And among the features that distinguish it from other formats, it is worth noting:
- ease of creating an electronic document;
- a wide range of programs for reading literature in this format on a computer and on a mobile phone;
- the presence of structural markup with information about the book and attachments in the form of quotes, illustrations and book covers.
Another advantage worth paying attention to when answering the question, fb2 - what kind of format and what to open, is the lack of a specific appearance document. The file will be displayed as specified by the program settings for viewing it. This means that the user can customize the design of the e-book to his taste (for example, make large print, yellow background and blue letters - this combination allows less tired eyes) without changing the document itself.
Programs for working with fb2 on a Windows PC
One of the first programs to answer the question, fb2 - what kind of format, was free app Cool Reader. It is noteworthy that it first appeared for Android platforms, but then gained popularity on PC. The differences between the "reader" and the rest are a simplified design and a significant number of supported electronic document formats.
Another simple and free reading program is FBReader. An almost completely absent interface, consisting of several buttons, is combined with the ability to open most popular book formats. In addition, with this application, books can be read directly from the archive.
Allows you to answer the question, fb2 - what kind of format and what to open on a computer, and the STDU Viewer application. Among the advantages of its use:
- opportunity simple selection and copying text to save interesting moments;
- bookmark system that do not change the document itself, but can be imported to another PC with installed program STDU Viewer;
- the presence of a Portable version of the application, which allows you not to install it on a computer for reading books.
How to open the format on other OS?
Users of devices operated by other operating systems, can also open the fb2 format. For computers with MAC OS, this opportunity is provided by the Caliber program, which opens e-books with almost any popular extension. What's more, you can directly connect to online libraries like Amazon using the app.
If the user has a question: fb2 - what kind of format and what to open on an Android phone, you should use the same Cool Reader program, which is easy to find in the store Play market. If the functionality of the application is not enough, you can download another "reader" for "Android" - Esі Reader. With its help, you can change the display of information, save bookmarks and read almost all popular e-book formats.
For smartphones with IOS, the answer to the question: fb2 - what kind of format and how to open it, allows the Total Reader application, which has approximately the same functionality as Cool Reader. And the owners mobile phones running on OS Windows Mobile, you should pay attention to the program Faction Book Reader.
Reading fb2 online
Having learned, fb2 - what kind of format, what programs should be used to read the books stored in it, you can view files on the Web. There is no need to download and install any applications, but you will need a permanent Internet connection. Among the services that allow you to read directly in the browser, it is worth noting the sites Magazon, ChitaiKnigi and BooksGid. Moreover, the last option offers not only to read books in fb2 format, but also to connect to a free library.
Reading occupies an important place in the lives of many people, but a place for an ordinary paper book is not always found next to a person. Paper books are, of course, good, but electronic books are much more convenient. However, without *.fb2 readers, the computer will not be able to recognize this format.
These programs will allow you to open *.fb2 books, read them and even modify them. Some of them have more functions than just reading and editing, and some were not intended to read *.fb2 at all, but made this list because they can open such files.
FBReader is the most simple example reader, which can only be. There is nothing superfluous in it, and there is something that complements it - network libraries. With the help of them, you can download books directly in the program. This program for reading books in fb2 format is almost completely subject to change, however, there are fewer settings in it than in Caliber.
AlReader
This fb2 reader is more complicated than the previous one and does not require installation, which is without a doubt a plus. But that's not all that makes it different from FBReader, it also has a translator, bookmarks, and even a change in book format. In addition, it has more extensive settings.
Caliber
Caliber is not just a reader, but a real library with many functions. In it, you can create and share your libraries as you like. Allow other users to access your libraries or connect to others using the network. In addition to the reader function, it combines several more useful features such as downloading news from around the world, downloading and editing books.
ICE Book Reader
A simple library, auto-scrolling, searching, saving and editing - all that is in this program. Simple, low-functional and understandable for everyone, and, at the same time, very useful.
Balabolka
This program in this list is a unique piece. If Caliber was not just a reader, but a library, then Balablolka is a program that is able to pronounce any typed text aloud. It already happened that the program has the ability to read files with the *.fb2 format, and therefore it ended up on this list. Balabolka has a lot of other functions, for example, it can convert subtitles into sound or compare two text files.
STDU Viewer
This program was also not designed to read e-books, but it has this feature, especially since the developers added this format to the program for a reason. The program can edit files and convert them to plain text.
WinDjView
WinDjView is designed to read files in DjVu format, but it also has the ability to open files with the .fb2 format. A simple and convenient program can be an excellent replacement for an e-book reader. True, it has very little functionality, especially when compared with Balabolka or Caliber.
In this article, we reviewed the most convenient and famous programs, able to open books in *.fb2 format. Not all of the above programs are designed specifically for this, and therefore their functionality differs. All these programs are different from each other, but what program for opening fb2 is on your PC?
FB2 is a popular format used for storing printed materials: books, teaching aids, magazines. It is an XML table in which each element is described by its tags. This approach allows you to open FB2 on any device, provided that the reader you use supports this format.
Online Services
If you want to read e-books online, you can use the magazon.ru service, which provides the ability to download files in the FB2 format. Unfortunately, other sites have stopped working: either they are blocked due to copyright infringement when downloading books, or they simply give an error when trying to add a new document.
The magazon.ru/fb2/firstFormFb2 service looks clumsy, but copes with the task, actually showing the contents of the book. How it works:
The page will refresh, you will see the text of the downloaded printed matter. Pictures are not added, there is no table of contents either, but the text itself is formatted as tags are written in the XML document.
Browser extensions
You will see the text of the book with all the pictures and the correct layout. EasyDocs automatically saves the downloaded file in the library, so that if necessary, you can drop all the books into the browser. If you open the FB2 format through Chrome without installing the extension, then an XML document with all the tags will be displayed. Theoretically, you can read the text in this form, but it will quickly get boring.
Similar functionality offers an add-on for Mozilla Firefox, which is called "FB2 reader". You can install it in the "Add-ons" section of your browser settings. 
FB2 reader does not save books in the library, but it has another advantage - it displays a clickable table of contents, which makes it easier to navigate through the text. 
On Mozilla Firefox, you can also install the EasyDocs extension, which is used in Google Chrome to open FB2 format.
Computer programs
If you constantly open e-books on your computer, it is much more convenient to install one of the programs that can work with the FB2 format and offers a number of additional features. There are similar applications for Windows 7, and for Windows 10, and for Mac OS, so there will be no problems with reading.
FBReader is distributed free of charge. The program allows you to quickly create a real library of e-books on your computer, neatly sorted by genre and author.
A simple program with a minimalistic design that does not distract from reading, and a small set of functions. Ebook Reader has a free and Pro version.
The Pro version has the following benefits:
- Reading in full screen without limitation.
- Copying text.
- Changes to the title and author of the book.
- Create categories in the library.
But even without these options, you can completely do without. V free version FB2 files are easily added to the library individually. You can add bookmarks and save them so that you can quickly return to the right place. The library displays reading progress.
Universal reader for different formats. It has portable version, which can be run from removable media without preset. Another advantage of STDU Viewer is the display of the book's table of contents. If the content is not displayed in the Ebook Reader, then the STDU Viewer displays at least the division into parts, if it is present in the book.
It is possible to add bookmarks to pages. In addition, the program offers several reading modes. The page size can be changed in height, width, manually specified as a percentage. Text and images can be selected and copied to be saved on your computer as separate files. 
The list of readers that support the FB2 format is not limited to these applications. You can find several other programs similar in functionality, but most users choose FBReader because this application has long established itself as the main assistant when reading e-books on a computer.
Readers for Mac OS and Linux
If you are using an Apple computer, install Caliber on it. This free utility who can work with EPUB, MOBI and FB2 documents. In addition to reading, Caliber provides the ability to make your own rating of read works. There is a sync feature with major online libraries so new books can be added directly from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
In addition, there is a version of the FBReader program for Mac OS. You can also install it on Linux - the corresponding version is also located on the program's website.
Hello dear readers of my blog. Today I want to advise book lovers how to read books on the fb2 computer and advise one of the most convenient programs which I sometimes use. With this reader (reader) your reading will be a pleasure, as it has settings that you will be delighted with and easy to get used to. We will also learn about its history, why this program is so popular, as well as talk about the possibilities…
What programs can be used to open Fb2?
Icecream Ebook Reader
Download from the official site
Size - 26.2 mb
Its advantage is that it works with different files"book" type (epub, mobi), and copes with its tasks simply "with a bang." In it, you can change the font size, choose to display text in one or two columns. She understands chapter references and writes the table of contents for the book.
I especially liked the night mode feature. If you are reading a book on your computer at night or just in a dark room, the night mode will change the background and text colors for convenience. It is advisable to increase the font so as not to strain your eyesight. An ordinary user only needs to download it, install it on a PC and start working. The program differs from analogues in that it is updated at a time when such readers are no longer supported by their creators.
The history of the creation of the format
The FB2 format was developed from the very beginning in order to provide storage for printed information. Its main purpose is to read books and electronic magazines. Russian programmers Dmitry Gribov and Mikhail Matsnev proposed an extension that could be supported by a wide variety of programs.
To do this, they developed data storage in the form of an XML table. Similar solution provides entry of all content about text, book, pictures. The format has gained popularity and now when downloading literature you can see its prevalence in online libraries.
Who is this app for?
Ebook reader is perfect for those users who like to read fiction. It structures the text content well. When you close the program, it remembers the page you left on and opens it the next time you read it. desired page. Adjusts font smoothing for long screen reading.
What to do if there is no Ebook reader at hand?
How to read publications and magazines if there is no necessary “program” on the computer and it is not possible to download it? In this case, you should simply change the file extension from fb2 to htm and save. You can then use any browser to read it.
You can also open a book or magazine in fb2 using "Word" and then rename the extension to rtf. Further, opening in any text editor, save to doc. format. Thus, it will be easy and simple to read the necessary text and see pictures. True, the structure of the text may change slightly ...
On this I say goodbye to you, my dear subscribers. In my next posts, I will dwell on other popular computer applications in detail, and tell you how to use them. Subscribe to my blog and recommend it to your friends and acquaintances!
Fb2 format was created as universal way book storage. He has many useful properties, and one of them is the ease of converting to a number of other formats. However, not every user has an fb2 reader on their computer. This is what slowed down the development of the format. But if you have special utility you can enjoy comfortable reading books.
Free FB2 Readers
Universal reader. It supports most formats for storing books, works with any amount of information and the number of sheets. To use it, you do not need to install anything, just run the executable file. It's really convenient and fast.
It would seem that such the simplest program should have a small functionality, but this is not true. In fact, Cool Reader meets all modern requirements. In addition to reading the fb2 format, this program will work with any documents, including those on the network! To do this, there is convenient access to online libraries.
The interface of the utility is very convenient and simple. It is divided into several parts, one of which shows recent files, the second - the document directory, and the third - settings. This approach allows you to use it regardless of the localization language. According to many users, this is the best program.
A bit old fashioned but very functional program for Windows. It allows you to work with absolutely any text formats, and can also connect to archives! Now you do not need to extract books from RAR, ZIP or other packages, you just need to specify the path to them.
In addition, it should be noted a huge variety of settings. In the program, you can customize almost everything for yourself - from the catalog to the font. It should also be noted that the cataloging system is incredibly extensive and convenient. In it, you can divide books into categories, genres, your own wishes, the number of bookmarks, and even corrections. By the way, they allow you to remove typos from the text.
ICE Book Reader Professional will help you save your eyesight. To do this, there are a number of different viewing modes that are suitable for different conditions. 
No wonder it's called that. This program works with all formats that the user can only find on the Internet. Docx, abw and even chm books can be read in Alreader. This is the main advantage of the utility. It doesn't have an outstanding interface design, but it doesn't irritate the eye, even after a very long reading.
Alreader will help you tune in, focus on the process. To do this, you can choose the most convenient font, background color and illumination, and even anti-aliasing mode. This approach to customization allows the user to get real pleasure from reading. The program has the usual "day" and "night" modes, as well as a lot of unique settings.
It is important to note that the background for reading can be as authentic as possible - in the form of paper of varying degrees of preservation. Fulfilled background images very high quality, which will help to get aesthetic pleasure. 
At this stage, the program is still being finalized, so it has several drawbacks. For example, table formats and CSS styles are not fully supported. However, this practically does not limit the reader. Problems will be extremely rare, on single copies.
In FB2 Reader you can create an entire library by cataloging information by one of a dozen different parameters. This program can be downloaded for free and used without any restrictions. 
STDU Viewer- can hardly be called a classic reader. It is designed to work with any documents, including e-books. Many free programs specialize in readability. This is very important, but not in all cases. The same program is more aimed at maximum functionality. It can view any format of documents. It's hard to even come up with a book that STDU Viewer can't open.
The program interface is concise, but very convenient. Small symbolic icons can be understood intuitively, especially since everything is translated into Russian. Despite the huge number of different possibilities, they are neatly placed in several panels, allowing the user to concentrate on the text.
Of the unique features, it is worth noting the format converter, the ability to work with images. Also, STDU Viewer allows you to print documents. 
